The city has donned its festive attire for the season. Yet, the celebratory atmosphere and joyous expressions are not painted on every face.

Our fellow citizens experiencing homelessness, isolated from the social fabric, confront the harsh face of the city every day and night, whether it’s a holiday or not. They live in its shadows and silence, even as streets and squares are illuminated, and the noise never ceases.

Their lives are an endless battle against the elements, hunger, and the lurking threats of crime, jeopardizing their physical safety. Lacking the warmth, comfort, and security of a home, they spend Christmas in makeshift "mangers" of cardboard and plastic or temporarily housed in public shelters, with the nightmare ever-present.

Restoring Dignity

TA NEA accompanied streetworkers from Emfasis Non-Profit, an organization tirelessly working since 2013 to restore the dignity of those experiencing multiple forms of homelessness.

During a nighttime journey through the heart of Athens, their mission was to distribute Christmas sweets, biscuits, and tea to homeless individuals, record their immediate needs, inform them of available support services, and most importantly, exchange words that serve as a balm to their profound loneliness.

Loneliness, however, is not their only nightmare. Criminal activity is a constant and ominous threat during nighttime.

"Close your eyes in a dark room for a few minutes without knowing who is beside you, and you’ll feel sheer terror. That’s how they feel—completely alone and utterly unprotected," explains Maria Nikolaou, a sociologist with Emfasis and team leader of the Social Streetwork shifts.

A Carefully Planned Mission

The night's route follows a specific schedule. According to Maria, "We work in shifts and map the streets of Attica and nationwide where needed, identifying who needs help and where."

Experienced streetworkers meticulously plan each route, load essential items (dry food and first aid supplies) into the organization's vehicle, and set out.

"We are not a soup kitchen," clarifies Vangelis Lignos, operations and training manager at Emfasis, while driving to the starting point. "What matters is offering essentials, practical survival advice, and, most importantly, the feeling that someone cares about them."

With supplies in hand, they approach a middle-aged man lying in a building recess on a narrow side street of Piraeus Avenue.

"Would you like some biscuits and hot tea?" Maria asks. He gratefully accepts, adding, "Look at my left foot; it’s wounded, and I need help."

Maria responds gently, "Our team doesn’t include medical staff, but Doctors of the World are nearby. They accept patients without many documents or fees and can treat your foot. We’ll check on you again tomorrow."

Navigating Risks

Continuing toward Omonia, the team meets a couple struggling with addiction. They gratefully accept the aid from Angeliki Nikolettou, another dedicated member of Emfasis.

“Goodnight and Merry Christmas,” Angeliki says, receiving a rare smile in return. A few streets away, they decide not to assist two individuals due to visible drug transactions on the opposite sidewalk. "Safety is a priority," explains Vangelis. "Half the team provides aid, while others ensure the surroundings are secure."

Maria Karra, Emfasis co-founder, emphasizes, "Risk management is instantaneous, and the experience of streetworkers is critical to completing the mission safely."

As they move through the brightly lit Omonia square, they meet a woman of indeterminate age, alone in her cardboard home, illuminated by festive lights. "Would you like some melomakarona?" Maria offers.

“Thank you, my dear,” she responds, her gratitude shining through. They exchange words of trust built over time. "What’s your Christmas wish?" Maria asks.

"That my children and all the children in the world are well," she answers with disarming simplicity.

The Value of Sleep

Many homeless individuals sleep during these missions, and the team leaves aid beside them quietly. "We must not wake them. Sleep is precious for people constantly living in fear and persecution," Maria explains.

Their next stop is a public shelter where they meet Ms. Katerina, around 70 years old with fragile health. Her eyes light up as she greets the Emfasis team, who have supported her for a year.

"You’ve been missed!" she exclaims. Vangelis hands her a warm black coat and gives her a hug.

When asked what gift she would like, her answer brings a smile: "Books. They’re my companions. Lately, I’ve been hooked on science fiction."

The team bids farewell to Ms. Katerina and returns to the car. It’s past 11 p.m., and the city, mostly asleep, feels like a different world. Another night of action has ended, but the fight for dignity and support for the homeless continues unabated.

Source: tanea.gr